Folding machine



A. D. ELLIOTT.

FOLDING MACHINE.` APPLICATION FILED- Aua.e, 1920.

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A. DJELLIOTT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONV FILED AUG- 6| |920.

Patented June 20, 1922.

A. D. ELLIOTT.

v FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, i920.

1,420,475, Pmmdlune 20,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ALEXANDER D. ELLIOTT, OF VIOLA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TG, A. STEIN ,et COMPANY,

or CHICAGO, iLLINois, A CORPORATION.

FOLDING MACHINE.

Lezama.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 20, 1922.

Application filed August 6, 1920. Seria1 No. 401,688.

,T 0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER D. ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, and `a residentof Viola, in the county of Mercer and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Machines, of which I do declare the following to be a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention has relation to that class of folding machines designed for turning the edges of fabric blanks'from which garter pads, collars, cliffs and the like are to be formed, and more particularly, the invention is designed to improve in certain respects the machine set forth in an application for Letters Patent filed by me in the United States Patent Otlice January 22, 19.20, Sr. No. 353,328. Inasmuch as the main features of the machine hereinafterv -described are identical with the machine set forth in my above mentioned application, I have.` not deemed it necessary to include either in the drawings or the specification of this'application all the features of the said former machine.

'The present .machine, like that set forth in the above mentioned application, is designed more particularly for folding the edges of the blanks from which garter vpads are to be made, and this machine, like the machine of said application, comprises ay series of supports for the fabric blanks and groups or units of folder blades associatel therewith and mounted upon a horizontally revoluble table that serves to successively movethese groups or units of folder blades past a series of superposed dies or tcmplets overthe edges of which the edges of the fabric blanks will be turned, thefabric blanks being advanced by a step-by-step movement ii'nparted to the revoluble table so thatfeach fabric blank will be brought successively beneath the several dies or templets that will cooperatewith the folder' blades in folding certain edge portions of the blanks.

In the machine of my application Sr. No. 853,323, provision was madefor' shifting the dies or templets so as to move them from engagement with the folded edges of the blanks by means of a lifting frame that serves,ithrough suitable connections, to shift the templets back and forth. My present invention is designed more particularly to simplify the machine of my application Si'. No. 353,323 by providing improved means whereby the templets are shifted back and forth; and to this end, the invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in` the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification. v

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the upper part of a machine similar to that set forth in my said application Sr. No.353,323. Figure 2 is a plan view. Figure 3 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly vin side elevation, showing the mechanism for shifting one of the templets and showing beneath said templets the folding blades cooperating therewith. Figures is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in different positions. Figure 5 .is a view upon an enlarged scale in horizontal section on line '5-5 of Fig. l, parts being omitted. VFigure 6 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Figure 7 is a detail view in vertical section on `line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable eccentric shown in Fig. 7. Figure 9 is a view in vertical section on line 9-9 of Fig. 3. Figure 110 is a view in horizontal section on line ylO--lO of Fig. 3. Figure 1l is a view in vertical section on line ll-ll of Fig. 3.

The main frame of my machine (the upper portion only of `which is illustrated) coinprises corner posts A. that are connected together by the pilates A and. A2, these plates A and .Abeing of skeleton formand the plate A being shown as connected only to three of the corner posts at their top-s (see Fig. 2). In the plate A is journaled the upper end of a shaft 20, the lower end of this shaftbeing journaled in a suitable support (not shown), as in thek machine set forth in my above mentioned application. This shaft 20 is free toi move verticallyv within its bearings and has secured thereto a revoluble table 21 that carries lthe groups or units of yfolder blades whereby will be folded the edges of the blanks from which the garter pads are toy be formed. The various parts comprising the groups or units of folderblades and the mechanism for oper-V ating said blades being the same as that set forth in my above mentioned application, need not be described in detail.

By reference more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that each of these groups or units comprises a support 25 on which the fabric blanks will be folded and comprises also folder blades 26 that are suitably mounted upon reciprocatory supports 27 by which the folder` blades 26 are moved inward and outward to fold the edges of the fabric blanks. In Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the fabric blank IV is shown with one of its edges folded and beneath one of the folder blades 26.

In the present machine, as in that set forth in the above mentioned application, the folder blades 26 cooperate with a series of dies or templets 30, one of these dies or templets being fixed to the depending portion 3l of a block or carrier 32. that is fixed to the lower' end of a die-carrying arm 33, as in the machine set forth in my above mentioned application. Each of the die-carrying arms 33 is pivotally supported, as at 34, to bars 35 secured to the under side of a plate 36 that is fastened to the under face of the skeleton plate A2 (see Figs. 3 and 4), so that each die-carrying bar 33 can swing from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. The lowerV portion of each bar 33 is free to move between the cross bars 37 that are connected to the lower ends of vertically depending bars 38 and 39 that have their upper ends secured to the bars 35 (see Figp9). The parts thus far described are essentially the same as correspending parts in the machine set forth in Vmy before-mentioned application. Instead,

however, of imparting an oscillating movement to the die-carrying bars 33, as in my above mentioned machine, I effect this movement of the bars 33 by the mechanism next to be described:

Adjacent each of the bars 33 is mounted a shifter bar 40 that is pivoted as at 41 to the Ycorresponding upright bar 39. The lower portion of each bar 40 is connected by a link 42 (see Figs. 3, 10 and l1) to the corresponding die-carrying bar 33. Preferably, the link 42 is provided with a stud passing through the bar 33 and held thereto by means of a set screw 43 and washer 44 (see Figs, 10 and 11), and preferably, also, the opposite end of the link 42 is connected to the shifter bar 40 by means of an eccentric pin 45 (see Figs. 3, 4, 10 and 11). As shown, each of the bars 40 is formed at its lower portion with a long slot 46 and with a hole to receive the portion 47 of the pinv 45, this portion 47 being eccentric with respect to the reduced inner portion 48 of the pin. The pin 45 is formed in its outer end with a long slot 49 by which the pin may be turned to bring it to the desired position and through the -lower split or slotted portion of the bar 40 is Yformed a l threaded hole to receive a bolt 50 whereby the split portions of the lowerend of the bar 4Q can be turned tightly against theeccentric portion 47 of the pin 45 when the pin has been adjusted.l lIhe purpose of providing the eccentric pin 45 is to enable a delicateV adjustment to be made so as to determine accurately the extent of movement that will be imparted by the shifter bar 40 to the die-carrying bar 33. The upper end of the bar 40 is shown as provided with a vertical rod or extension 52 that maybe attached to the bar 40 byv being placed within a hole formed in said bar and being held in position'in said hole by a screw 53. The Lipper end of the rod or extension 52 passes through a slot 53 (see Fig. 5) in an arm 54 that is pivotallymounted upon the upper end of a post or stud 55 mounted upon the bars 35 (see F ig. 9), this arm 54 being held in place by means of the set screw 56 and washer 57. Each of the arms is formed adjacent its upper end with a hole to receive the reduced lower end 60 of an eccentric ad justing pin (see Figs. 7 and 8). The upper partof this eccentric pin is formed with a portion 61 that is eccentric to the portion 60 of said pin. One of the eccentric pins has its upper portion 61 held within a seat or hole formed in the end of a rod 65, this rod 65 being formed with a slot 66 (see Fig. 5) and being provided with a transverse threaded hole to receive a screw l67 that enables the split or slotted portion of the rod 65 to be tightly clamped upon the upper portion 61 of the eccentric pin. The eccentric pin that engages the other arm 54 has its upper portion 61 similarly clamped to the slotted end of a rod 7 0. By reference to Figs. 5 and 7 it will be seen that Va set screw 63 and a washer 69 serve to more securely hold the eccentric pin in engagement with the rod 65 or 70 to which said pin is connected. The upper face of the eccentric pin may be provided with a long slot or with a series of holes to permit the eccentric pin to be conveniently turned. The purpose of connectingthe rods 65 and 70 to the 4arms 54 by means of eccentric pins is to yenable the throw ofthe rods to be varied slightly so as to insure extreme accuracy in the extent of movement that rod 7 O is formed witli' a yoke-shaped portionY 73 that straddles the shaft It between a collar 74 and a cam R that is fixed to said shaft. To the under side of the rod (see Fig. 6) is secured a bracket 74 carrying a roller adapted to bear against the periphery of the cam R. The rod (55 isvshown as formed of two parts secured together and one part lapping upon the other (see Fig. G), and to the rod 65 is fastened a hook 7G to which is fastened one end of a spring 77, the opposite end of this spring being attached to a hook 78 that is secured to the skeleton plate A2 (see Fig. 5). The spring 77 serves to hold the roller 75 in engagement with the periphery of the cam R.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upper end of the shaft R is provided with a bevel gear wheel 80 that meshes with a pinion 8l on a short shaft 82 suitably mounted in the main frame. rlhis short shaft 82 has fixed thereto a gear wheel 83 that meshes with a gear pinion 84 on a drive shaft 85 suitably mounted in the main frame. The drive shaft 85 is provided at its outer end with a pulley 86 to which revolution will be imparted and upon this shaft 85 is mounted a suitable friction clutch device 87 that will be controlled by a clutch shifter rod 88.

The gearing and the clutch mechanism last described being the same as that set forth in my above mentioned application Serial No. 353,323, need not be more fully described.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that when revolution is imparted to the shaft R and to the dam R mounted upon said shaft, the rods 65 and 7 0 will be moved longitudinally and will impart a back and forth movement to the pivoted arms 54. This movement of the arms 54 will, by reason of their engagement with the rods or extensions 52 at the upper ends of the shifter bars 40, cause these shifter bars to rock about their pivot pins 4l. As the shifter' bars 40 are thus rocked, they will cause the diecarrying bars 33 to swing back and forth from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and will correspondingly shift the die or templet 30 at the end of each of these bars.

lt will be understood by thosel familiar with the construction of the machine set forth in my above mentioned application Serial No. 353,323, that when a garter blank has been placed in position upon a support 25 (see Figs. 3 and 4) and the folder blade or blades 26 have been moved inwardly to fold the edge of the blank, such edge of the blank will be folded over the die or templet 30, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, after which it is necessary to withdraw the die or templet 30 from beneath the folded edge of the blank,-that is to say, to shift the die or templet from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4

of the drawings. This shift or withdrawal of the die or templet from beneath the folded edge of the blank is accomplished bythe mechanismhereinbefore described. It will be understood, also, that when the die or templet has thus been withdrawn from beneath the folded edge of the .fabric blank, the rotary table carrying the groups or units of folder blades will descend so as to permit a step-by-step revolution to be imparted to said table through the medium of the shaft 20 whereby said table is carried. It will bev them to and from the position in which they Y cooperate with the folder blades in folding the edges of the garter blanks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a folder blade and with a support for blanks to be folded, and with means for actuating the same, of a die or templet for cooperating with said blade, a movable bar for carrying said die or templet, a'shaft provided with a cam, a rod actuated by said cam, and connections between said rod and said die-carrying bar whereby said bar and said die or templet are moved back and forth.

2. The combination with a folder blade and with means for actuating the same, of a die or templet for cooperating with said blade, a swinging bar for carrying said die or templet, a pivoted shifter bar arranged adjacent said swinging bar and connected thereto, a shaft provided with a cam, a rod actuated by said cam, and connections between said rod and said die-carrying bar whereby said die and said bar or templet are moved back and forth.

3. The combination with a folder blade and with means for actuating the same, of a die or templet for cooperating with said blade, a swinging bar for carrying said die or templet, a pivoted shifter bar arranged adjacent said swinging bar and connected l therewith at its lower end, a sha-ft provided with a cam, a rod actuated by said cam, and connections between said rod and the upper end of said shifter bar.

4. The combination with a folder blade and means for actuating the same, of a die or templet for cooperating with said blade, a swinging bar for carrying said die or templet, a shaft provided with a cam, a rod actuated by said cam, and connections between said rod and said die-carrying bar comprising Ineens whereby the throw of said de-carrying bar may be adjusted.

5. The Combination With a folder blade andy with means for actuating the same, of a die or templet for cooperating with said blade7 e swinging bar for Carrying said bar or templen'a shifter bar plvoted adjacent arm.

ALEXANDER D. ELLIOTT. 

